Music Biz Headlines: The Weeknd’s Record-Setting Statue, Olivia Rodrigo Inspired by Sarah McLachlan
Also this week: artists react to major AI music training leak, Toronto's Rogers Stadium faces noise complaints and superstars show out for Obama.
The Weeknd’s Statue
The Weeknd sets a record with a new extravagant stage prop, a gold-plated sculpture designed by Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama and officially the tallest fine art piece ever commissioned for a concert.
Elsewhere, Madonna fans will be upset over news of her biopic, Emily Haines reflects upon the so-called "indie sleaze" era and will the Stones be Rolling less now?
Read these stories and more via our roundup of headlines at home and away.
Canadian Music Biz Headlines
The Weeknd Adds a Record-Breaking 40-Foot Statue to His European Tour
The latest update to the Canadian superstar's historic After Hours Til Dawn tour, the set piece is designed by Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama and officially the tallest fine art piece ever commissioned for a concert. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Drake’s Apparel Company OVO in Legal Battle With Investor Over $4 Million Loan
The rapper's Toronto lifestyle brand and a Florida-based lender have filed dueling lawsuits against each other in Canada. – Rachel Scharf, Billboard
Canada's Major Labels Get a Court Order to Block YouTube Stream-Ripping Sites
Music Canada — on behalf of its members, Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada — has blocked the Canadian operations for three sites that enable the unauthorized copying of music from YouTube and other streaming services. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
After 17 Years, Mervon Mehta Steps Down as the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Concert Programmer
When Mervon Mehta was approached by the Royal Conservatory of Music to run its performing arts component, its state-of-the-art centrepiece theatre was nothing more than a hole in the ground. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Minority Shareholders Urge CRTC to Reject Corus’ Recapitalization Plan
The group is asking the CRTC to reject Corus' proposed recapitalization plan unless the broadcaster commits to maintaining editorial diversity. – Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press
Drake, The Weeknd, Nemahsis, Tre Mission and More Used in AI-Training Databases: Report
The Atlantic reported that "four giant datasets of songs” — the largest containing 12 million songs — are being shared in the AI music development community, including data from many Canadian acts, including Luna Li, Lunice, Valley and others. – Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Why is Gen Z Obsessed with Indie Sleaze? Metric’s Emily Haines Has Some Theories
Emily Haines thinks young people's fascination with the so-called "indie sleaze" era of the early to mid-2000s is less about fashion than freedom. – Alex Nino Gheciu, Canadian Press
Coal Clash Pits Billionaire Against Canadian Country Music Star Corb Lund
An Australian-owned company moving to open a coal mine in the Canadian Rockies has galvanized ranchers, fishers and environmentalists behind a country music star’s effort to stop new developments. – Bloomberg News
The Woman Who Created Iconic Sneaky Dee’s Mural Ponders its Future as Demolition Threat Looms
For Toronto artist Fiona Smyth, who designed the exterior murals that make Sneaky Dee’s corner location so distinctive, the block’s looming development application brings back memories of a different era and speaks to the inevitable nature of urban change. – Lana Hall, The Globe & Mail
Calgary City Council Upholds Controversial New Curfew for Summer Festivals
Summer festival tents and concerts outside Stampede Park will adhere to a strict 12 am noise curfew on weekends, however the period of cool-down music following concerts has been extended until 1 am. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
ADISQ Launches 50 New Initiatives to Expand the Reach of Francophone Music in Quebec
The project titled "Montréal, faites du bruit," or "Montreal, Make Some Noise," aims to increase the discoverability and visibility of Francophone artists through promotion, performances and programs by partnering with cultural sites and media giants. – Stefano Rebuli, Billboard Canada
Remembering 'The Fly': Friends, Family and Collaborators Help Release Final Album of Marvin Kee
Marvin remained an integral part of the Calgary music scene for decades, performing until he died in 2023. In 2024, a mural created by Calgary artist Alex Kwong was unveiled in Inglewood that depicts Marvin and a number of the venues he played at along the “Music Mile.” – Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald
International Music Biz Headlines
Spotify Beats Streaming Fraud Lawsuit That Claimed Drake Gets Billions of Fake Plays
The ruling rejected accusations that Spotify broke the law by turning a "blind eye" to bot-fueled fake streams for major artists, but the case isn't quite over yet. – Rachel Scharf, Billboard
Backstreet Boys Recall Drake Saying His First Kiss Was to Their Song, Choose Between *NSYNC & O-Town
Kevin Richardson's kids couldn't believe Drizzy was a fan. – Hannah Dailey, Billboard
Rodrigo was included in last year’s documentary Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery – The Untold Story, which explored the legacy of the '90s all-women music fest founded by McLachlan. When planning her new festival, she says the first person she called was that iconic Canadian singer-songwriter. — Heather Taylor-Singh, Billboard Canada
Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Bono and Others Perform at Opening of Obama Presidential Center
Former President Barack Obama, joined by three former presidents, celebrated the opening of his presidential centre in Chicago on Thursday, in an extraordinary event that brought together world leaders, A-list celebrities and athletes. The livestreamed ceremony featured performances from Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Bono, John Legend and more. – Yahoo News
Harry Styles Covers Patrick Watson at Intimate Meltdown Festival Set in London
Styles is the curator of the 2026 edition of the festival. He fit in two covers of Montreal singer-songwriter alongside a Simon & Garfunkel cover, plus deep cuts and reinterpretations of his own songs. — Thomas Smith, Billboard UK
Grammys Add 5 New Categories, Lengthen Eligibility Timeline for Best New Artist
The Recording Academy has tweaked some of its rules for the 2026 Grammy Awards, including the addition of five new categories. There will now be a best Asian pop music performance category – celebrating releases across K-pop, J-pop, C-pop and beyond – awarded to the performer. – Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
Goose Pays Tribute to Fan Who Died at Madison Square Garden Concert: ‘Life Is Fragile’
Before the show, the band explained their decision to proceed with Sunday's concert, acknowledging the tragedy. — Jessica Lynch, Billboard
‘Maybe they just didn’t believe in me,’ the pop star said of Universal, which was set to make a film about her life starring Julia Garner. – Andrew Pulver, The Guardian
Keith Richards Says The Rolling Stones May Be Done With Traditional Touring
The Stones are preparing to release their 25th studio album Foreign Tongues on July 10 via Polydor/Universal Music. – Jessica Lynch, Billboard
Discover the Tiny Secret Festivals Rivalling Glasto for Vibes
Fed up with expensive tickets and omnipresent branding, some festival fans are creating their own anarchic, ticketless events full of glitter and silliness. They explain how it’s done. – Oliver Keens, The Guardian
